Metaltalks: Fostering Future Fans

Open for delegates and festival goers

How do we recruit the next generation of rock and metal fans? The younger generation seem evermore genre-fluid, and the loyalty towards artist and scenes isn’t what it used to be.

Do festivals, labels and venues face the same challenges when finding their new audience? How do we keep the loyal fans while at the same time catering for new audiences, and where should we place the money?

Moderator: Leo Dowidat (Nuclear Blast)

Participants: Isak Harbitz (Bukta), Jarek Szubrycht (Mystic), Linda Melsom (Indie Recordings)

Making her first steps in the music industry as a journalist in the mid-2010s, Leoni Dowidat started her own PR company in 2018, before joining her current workplace at the world-wide known metal label Nuclear Blast Records in late 2019. After contributing to grow the PR department as Head Of PR & Media Relations, her passion for artistic development led her to move to an A&R manager position in May 2024 -scouting new talents and promising bands to expand the label’s impressive portfolio as well as helping artists of the existing roster to exploit their fullest potential within the label team’s possibilities.

Isak Harbitz (32) from Tromsø, Norway currently works as Head of Program for Bukta Festival and the venue Blå Rock Café, both in Tromsø. He also works as agent/promoter for FKP Scorpio Norway. He has over 7 years experience booking festivals and clubs in addition to bringing up talent both domestically and internationally. Since 2019 Bukta Festival has booked international rock acts such as The War on Drugs, Weezer, Franz Ferdinand, Rival Sons, Turnstile, IDLES, Shame, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Bob Vylan and more. As an agent Isak works with artists such as Fieh, Heave Blood & Die, Hammok, Daufødt, Inge Bremnes, Emil Kárlsen and more.

Jarek Szubrycht Music writer (for Poland’s biggest daily Gazeta Wyborcza), radio host (metal show at Polish public radio Trójka), author of numerous books on music, including the world's first biography of Slayer, the official biography of Vader, and subjective take on history of metal "Skóra i ćwieki na wieki" ("Spikes and Leather Forever"). Head of Communications at Mystic Festival. Former metal vocalist (of Lux Occulta), every now and then Decapitated lyrics writer.

Linda Melsom broke into the music business in her teens and was quickly taken under the wings of capable and independent women like Runa Strindin and Hilde Hammer (RIP). This led to various jobs in festivals and events before she landed a position at Indie Recordings in 2014, where she has been ever since. She works with a wide range of bands, including The Good The Bad and The Zugly, Kampfar, Blomst, Seigmen, The Cruel Intentions and Gåte to mention some. Linda also served as the project manager for the Norwegian Grammys (Spellemannprisen) in 2023/2024, further showcasing her expertise in managing high-profile music events.